The Cayucos Sea Glass Festival includes plenty of the raw material (the real stuff, not the factory-polished) to examine as well as art and jewelry, this year created by 38 vendors.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

The Cayucos Sea Glass Festival includes plenty of the raw material...

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In addition to jewelry such as this pendant, Just Beachy Keen of Bristol, R.I., will also display shipwrecked bottles, rare sea glass and other oddities at the 2014 Cayucos Sea Glass Festival.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

In addition to jewelry such as this pendant, Just Beachy Keen of...

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Mermaids and other ocean themes inspire much of the art sold at the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival, now in its fourth year.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

Mermaids and other ocean themes inspire much of the art sold at...

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Victoria Roberts, designer of this seahorse pendant, will be one of the vendors at the fourth annual Cayucos Sea Glass Festival March 8-9.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

Victoria Roberts, designer of this seahorse pendant, will be one of...

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Nancy Allen of Monterey Bay Seaglass, one of the exhibitors at the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival March 8-9, says she donates a third of her proceeds to marine conservation and animal rescue groups in the area.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

Nancy Allen of Monterey Bay Seaglass, one of the exhibitors at the...

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All of the sea glass used in Orcas Island Sea Glass' jewelry, designed by Erica Lyons, comes from the eponymous island off Washington state.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

All of the sea glass used in Orcas Island Sea Glass' jewelry,...

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Monica Branstrom uses only recycled or reclaimed metals for her jewelry, along with eco-friendly sea glass and recycled gemstones.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

Monica Branstrom uses only recycled or reclaimed metals for her...

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Monica Branstrom Studio will have a booth featuring the San Clemente designer's sea glass jewelry at the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

Monica Branstrom Studio will have a booth featuring the San...

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Designer Lori Lambert of Capistrano Beach will showcase her Adornament line of sterling silver and sea glass jewelry at the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

Designer Lori Lambert of Capistrano Beach will showcase her...

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The 2013 Cayucos Sea Glass Festival included a mosaic and other pieces created by the Cayucos Art Association.

Photo: Cayucos Sea Glass Festival

The 2013 Cayucos Sea Glass Festival included a mosaic and other...

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The raffle at the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival, along with other proceeds from the annual event, benefits the town's Fourth of July fireworks show.

Sea glass — the trash that the ocean tumbles into treasure —is making a big name for the little beach town of Cayucos, big enough that the fourth annual Cayucos Sea Glass Festival, March 8-9, will introduce a "preview shopping" hour both days.

Last year more than 5,000 people attended the festival in the San Luis Obispo County hamlet, about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's expected to draw at least that many this year, primarily by offering 38 juried vendors from across the country selling sea glass art and jewelry. They include the nationally renowned expert Richard LaMotte, author of "Pure Sea Glass," and the creators of the popular collectors' website, Sea Glass Journal, based in Bristol, R.I., who will bring a display of shipwrecked bottles, rare sea glass and other "oddities," along with jewelry from their Just Beachy Keen line.

Regular admission, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is $5, but the first 200 people to arrive at 9 a.m. each day will be admitted for a preview at $15; all proceeds benefit the Fourth of July Cayucos Fireworks Show.

"Our vendors say that this is the best sea glass craft show in the nation because they sell more products here than at any other show," said festival co-creator Catherine (Kiki) Kornreich. "Saturday is usually the busiest day and has been the day that sells out quickly, so we're encouraging guests to beat the crowds and check out the festivities on Sunday, or attend the preview shopping hour."

The sea glass festival takes place in and around the Cayucos Veterans Hall at the foot of the historic pier (partially closed since July 2013 and the subject of a separate fundraising campaign.) Besides all the vendors of pretty green, blue and purple glass-bedecked baubles (with the occasional amber and rarer red pieces), the event includes live music from the Mystery Brothers, The 805s, Tennessee Jimmy Harrell and the Lenny Blue Band; food and drink from popular Cayucos purveyors; tours of vacation rentals; a silent auction and giveaways. Two Cayucos getaway packages will be awarded to fans of the Cayucos Sea Glass Festival's Facebook page.